Fin radiator



FIN RADIATOR Filed June 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l "a n {Huffy gnxwmmms ATTORNEY3 INVENTPR H. D. WILLIAMS FIN RADIATOR Oct. 1, 1935.

Filed June '12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIOR I dwflhams ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of heating devices and more particularly to a fin radiator.

With the common use of central heating plants the radiator system of heating wherein a liquid or fluid, water or steam, usually is circulated through a radiator it becomes increasingly desirable to provide a unit which will be as compact as possible and which will be efficient as a lo radiator and further one which may be constructed reasonably so that the full amount of radiation really required in a given area may be installed. Too often installations are made at present, because of the high cost of radiators, l5 wherein the radiating surface is not sufficient to adequately and properly heat the .area under consideration. My radiator consists substantially of a plurality of thin metal plates, preferably copper or some other metal that will have a relatively high heat conductivity, with a central deformed portion so that the heating fluid may pass through the same. This type of construction probably would not be acceptable generally were it'not for the fact that the present inclination is to enclose radiators both for their efiicient operation and to prevent the disfiguring of walls and the like. When used in an enclosure my radiator is particularly desirable, although suitably constructed it might be used in the open similar to the ordinary radiator as now employed. The principal advantages of this type of a unit are first, low cost, eificiency in radiating the heat imparted to the individual fin and further the fact that it does not have the possibility of developing leaks which are so common particularly in the cast type of radiators wherein a core is used and when the core is extracted it is impossible to adequately survey the interior of the radiator. As a result radiators will often test solid and in a short period develop leaks through sand holes and the like. These disadvantages are overcome in my present construction.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a radiator built after my principles, certain parts being broken 50 away to better illustrate the construction.

Figure 2 illustrates one of the through bolts used to hold my radiator sections together.

Figure 3 shows in perspective a single radiator fin.

55 Figure 4 illustrates in perspective one of the separators which are disposed between each of the fins.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section of a corner of a radiator so as to better illustrate the manner of deforming the fins. .3

Figure 6 illustrates in perspective one of the end plates of my radiator.

Figure 7 illustrates in perspective a type of supporting legs suitable for use in my device.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which 1g like reference characters indicate like parts 8 designates the radiating fin unit used in my radiator.

A single radiator unit is composed of a plurality of the fins. Each fin is normally made of a metal that is non-corrosive and has relatively high heat conductive qualities. Copper has been found to be highly satisfactory although many other metals might be used. The central portion of fin 8 is deformed after the fashion of louvers. This construction is best illustrated probably in ,1 Figures 3 and 5 in which a plurality of tabs ID are struck from the sheet stock and twisted through 90 degrees. The exact shape of these tabs is relatively unimportant but they should provide, normally, the minimum resistance to the heating fluid as it passes through the radiator, consequently the form shown in the drawings is believed to be a very desirable arrangement.

A plurality of spacers l2 are used, one between each two fin pieces. These spacers are provided 3;) with an opening M just sufficiently large to provide ample clearance for tabs l0, then they have sufficient engaging surface I5 so as to provide ample space for sealing the joints between members 8 and I2 so that they will be water tight. At each end of the radiator as it is built up-I provide end plates i6. These end members are provided with a plurality of rod receiving holes [8 and I9 adapted to accommodate a plurality of through truss rods 20. There are rod engaging openings 22 in fins 8 and also notches 24 in members [2. Consequently when a radiator unit is built up an end plate as I6 is disposed at either end of the unit. Next comes a spacer member I2 and a plurality of fins 8 of a number sufficient to 4 give the radiating surface required, each of these fin members, however, being separated by a spacer l2. The thickness of spacers 12 must be sufficient so that there will be no interference between the tabs of adjacent fins 8 after the showing of Figures 1 and 5.

Taken as a unit the spacer members l2 actually form with the cut-out tabs ID a relatively clear fluid chamber. The fluid is normally introduced in the upper portion and at one end as 'at 26 under control of the usual regulating valve 28. Then as the vapor or steam or Water cools the colder fluid is drawn off at 30 as is common with the usual type of radiator, in fact the system of piping used will correspond to the various types of piping at present employed for the usual steam, vapor, or hot water radiator. In Figure 1 I have illustrated a conventional type of relief valve as 32.

The unit as explained might be installed in any convenient manner; following out the showing of Figure l I have provided a plurality of cast legs 36 which are secured to end plates H5 in a manner to support the radiator. The form of support, however will have to be arranged to meet the conditions underrwhich the radiator is to be used.

In operation the hot fluid, steam, vapor or hot water or any other heating medium as it passes through the vapor chamber must of course encounter the tabs of all the different fins 8. The surface in contact is considerable and following the principles of heat conduction the heat is rapidly conducted to the outer edges of fins 8 and as these edges are all in the free air the heating of the air by convection takes place as in the ordinary radiator.

have no hollow sections or cells as normally employed and the sheets themselves are relatively thin copper, in fact the copper may be just as thin as structural strength may permit. It then naturally follows that a maximum heating surface is provided for an over-all size of radiator. This is a very important and distinguishing characteristic of my present design and enables the installation of radiators of a character disclosed in small places; it particularly lends itself to forced circulation and for the inclusion in cabinets and the like.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illus- The V distinguishing characteristic of my present radiator however is the fact that 1' trative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims:

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 5 Patent is:- a

l. The combination with a radiator having closed end plates, of a series of spacer-blocks having openings 2. The combination with a radiator having closed end plates, of a series of open center spacerblocks having edge notches, a series of alternately arranged radiator-plates each said plate having a series of central, vertical, louvres alined with the openings in said blocks, and longitudinally extending tie-bolts adapted for co-action with said notches for retaining said alternating plates and blocks in rigid relation.

3. The combination with a radiator having closed end plates, of a series of spacer-blocks having openings therethrough, a series of alternately arranged radiator-plates extending substantially above and below said spacer-blocks and said plates each having a vertical, central series of louvres alined with the openings in said blocks, and longitudinally extending tie-bolts for retaining said alternating plates and blocks in rigid relation.

The combination with a radiator having closed end plates, of a series of spacer-blocks having openings therethrough, a series of alternately arranged radiator-plates extending substantially above and below said spacer-blocks and said plates each having a vertical series of horizontally disposed louvres alined with the openings in said blocks, and longitudinally extending tie-bolts for retaining said alternating plates and blocks in rigid relation.

. HARRY D. WILLIAMS. 

